The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

In a series of free-verse poems, Koertge (Heart of the City, 1998, etc.) sketches out both a large cast of teenagers and an issues-heavy tale of high-school violence narrowly averted. As 15 Branston High seniors, few of them speaking up enough to become distinct characters, make out, break up, and complain about shiftless/demanding/evangelical/too-familiar fathers, classmate Troy adds names to a private list, and stockpiles guns at home, nerving himself for an "apocalypse"—a word he can't always even pronounce. Finally, he gives his intentions away so openly that three teens (with some difficulty) arouse the local police, and another Columbine-style catastrophe is nipped in the bud. With one character citing violence statistics, and others feeling physical attraction to a same-sex friend, becoming an environmental activist, experiencing date rape, reporting potential sexual abuse to a counselor, and encountering racist attitudes, this loses its identity as a story, coming off more as a utilitarian discussion-starter. Even fans of Mel Glenn's soapy novels-in-poetry will be unimpressed. (Fiction. YA)

Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.